City, Town Fail To Come Together On Sewer Deal

OSWEGO, NY – The city and town of Oswego have reached an impass.

The town was seeking an agreement to tie into the city’s sewer system to support two student housing developments in the town; one planned for County Route 7 and the other on Fred Haynes Boulevard.

City and town officials met Tuesday night in an attempt to lay the groundwork for a new pact. However, opposition from the city derailed any chance of an agreement being reached.

The developers will now have to construct their own onsite sewage treatment plants.

This option will likely wind up being cheaper for the developers, noted town board member Greg Herrmann. The plants are about the size of a tractor trailer, he explained.

According to town supervisor Victoria Mullen, the lines the town wanted to tie into the city’s system would be sewage only; town’s storm water goes into a separate line.

Mullen said she wasn’t sure why the city balked at the deal which would have meant about $84,480 in additional revenue for the Port City.

The developers would pay all the fees etc. to the city, the supervisor explained.

In February, Councilor Mike Myers (R-Second Ward) proposed a resolution to prohibit the city from accepting any new sewage from the town, except for single-family homes, and with approval from the council.

He claimed he wanted to save capacity at the city’s westside wastewater treatment plant for future development in the city. He also noted that during wet weather, partially treated sewage is being dumped in the lake.

The plant’s capacity is processing 4 million gallons per day; it only processes around 3 million gallons per day during dry weather.

The resolution was later vetoed by the mayor and the council overrode the veto.

The college is constructing new townhouses.

This spring, the council approved allowing them to tie in the city’s system.

According to the resolution, the college will pay its proportionate share for any upgrades and improvements needed to be done to westside wastewater treatment plant.

The town would be willing to pay its fair share as well, the supervisor said.

“We are willing to help out the city taxpayers,” Mullen said. “It could be a win-win for the city and the town. (The plant) has to be fixed. Don’t you want our help? We’re here to say we’re here to help, we will give you money.”

Mullen said she appreciated the councilors being open and honest with her about their opposition, but added, “I get the feeling that a few of you are just totally against this and nothing would change your mind.”

“I’m not totally against it,” Myers replied.

“And I’m saying I will give you money to fix your stuff and you’re saying we don’t want your money, pretty much,” Mullen said.

She pointed out the two projects would also benefit the city.

There would be construction jobs, more people spending money in city businesses and an increase in the amount of sales tax. The projects would also help ease the burden on Oswego City School District taxpayers, Mullen pointed out.

“Nobody wants to see any more tax increases. Wouldn’t you like to see some of your taxes go down?” Mullen said.

“The biggest thing for me is the town is willing to pay for the price of its share (of the plant’s upgrades),” Council President Dan Donovan said, adding he was for getting additional revenue for the city.

“They have to fix their problem (discharging into the lake). Whether they want to go it alone and put the burden on the city taxpayers, by themselves, or take in a partner, it’s up to them. A few of them don’t seem to want our help. That’s their decision,” Mullen said following Tuesday’s meeting. “We’ve done everything we can possibly do at this point.”

“We’re just looking for the same deal they’re giving the college,” Herrman said.

“But, obviously, they don’t want to give the town the same consideration that they gave to the college,” Mullen said. “If the overflow is their concern, why’d they approve the college?”

At one point during the meeting, Myers broached that subject, pointing out he voted no on that resolution and is treating the town the same as the college.

“I understand Mr. Myers is concerned about pollution. It goes back to it has to be fixed, don’t you want our help? We’re here to help ya, we’ll give ya money. They would rather the city of Oswego taxpayer be burdened with the fixing of this project than accepting the help from the town of Oswego,” Mullen said. “You just have to keep going back to why is this happening?”

“Here is a thought they (the common council) may not have thought of when rejecting increased sewer fees from the Town of Oswego. If the college does all their storm water separation on campus, that will mean significantly less sewer fees paid to the city from the college as they are currently paying fees on everything that is sent to the city,” Mullen said Wednesday. “So the city again will be losing revenue, and the city is actually going to be paying more for upgrades to the West Side Treatment plant due to the college cleaning up their storm water.”

Print this entry